Awl.



PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

G. A. PBA'GOCK. v

AWL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 190.6.

2 sHEETs-BnBT 1.

PATBNTED APR. `16, 1907.

G. A. PBACOOK.

AWL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 190s.

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'jew-622%?? NITED STATES PATENT orricn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed -Iune 2, 1906- Serial No. 319,956.

Patented April 16, 1907'.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. PEACocK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hanford, in the county of Kings' and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Awls, of which the following is a specification. I

v This invention relates to a harness-awl; and the objects of the invention are to facilitate hand-sewing .ofharness, leather, and other coarse substances, to safely protect the needle and reinforce the same whil'e pene- .trating suoli substances and permit a withdrawal of the needle from the material penetrated by automatically-operating means, and to tighten thread while sewing without any tension other than is given by the awl itself.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the' several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an awl embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is'an elevation of a modified form of the awl. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the awl shown by* Fia'. 3.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The awl comprises a hollow handle composed of two parts, a hollow head 1 and a tubular ,shank 2, the shank having a flanged terminal 3, which is exteriorly screw-threaded and is removably fitted in the head 1. A

needle-inclosing ferrule 4v is telescopically' mounted in the shank 2 and has a reduced extremity 5, with an opening therein through which the needle projects in the operation of the awl. The end of the ferrule 4 opposite the reduced extremity 5 is fitted in the end 6 of the shank 2 opposite that having the flange 3, and the shank and ferrule are operatively connected by a screw-collar 7, removably applied to the end 6 of the shank, the end of the ferrule being provided with a circumferential rib 8, vwhich bears against the inner surface of the shank. The maximum' diameter of the ferrule at the point of location of the rib 8 is slightly less than the interior diameter of the shank, and hence the ferrule is free to move upwardly in the shank, but cannot be projected in the opposite direction beyond a predetermined distance in view of the fact that the said rib will contact with the interior of the screw-collar 7.

The shank has a terminal needle-blade clamp 9, embodying an apertured projection having a set-screw therein, and extending through such projection is a thread-opening 10. The needle-blade 11 is secured in the terminal needle-clamp of the shank, and thereover is disposed a coiled spring 12, which bears at one extremity against the needleclamp and at the opposite extremity against the free end of the reduced portion of the ferrule, the object of this spring bein to return the ferrule to normal position after it has been pressed upwardly into the shank for 'the purpose of exposing the needle during the sewing operation, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

A thread-carrying bobbin 13 is rotatably held in the head 1, one end of said bobbin having bearing in the wall of the head and the opposite end engaging a spring-arm 14, which permits the bobbin to be removed and filled or replaced by another similar device when necessary. The one head 15 of the bobbin is peripherally notched or toothed, as at 16, and is normally engaged by one terminal of a stop lever or catch 17, having its opposite end in contact with a spring-actuated push-button 18, held in the center of the head and exteriorly engageable by the operator, so that when the awl is used the bobbin may be released at intervals to allow the thread to pay off or be fed to the needle, the tension on the thread being exerted by the awl itself owing to the normal locked condition of the bobbin. The thread is passed downwardly from the bobbin through the shank 2 and the thread-opening in the clampterminal of said shank to the eye of the needle and then outwardly through the openin in the reduced extremity of the ferrule.

gin the modification of the device shown by Figs. 3 and 4 the feed of the thread is modified and is rendered automatic, and, furthermore, the details of arrangement of the shank and ferrule are slightly varied. The shank 19 in this instance is tubular and has a clamping-terminal 20, embodying a setscrew for holding the needle therein. The clamping-terminal is reduced, and extending therealong is a thread-groove 21, with which a thread-opening 22 communicates, said opening being bored through the shank 19. The shank 19 has a flange 23, which is screw- ICO threaded to movably engage the head 24, the latter being similar to the head heretofore described, and through the said flange the bore of the shank 19 continues. Secured on the flange 23 is a resilient plate 24, having angular terminals 25, between which a bobbin 26 is removably held, one head 27 of the bobbin being in the form of a ratchet-wheel. The plate 24 also has angular ears 28 atopposite sides between the angular heads 25 and below the plane of the bobbin. In the said ears a trunnion bar 29 is movably mounted and carries a catch-lever 30, having a nose 31 which. is normally held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel 27, forming one head of the bobbin. The opposite extremity of this catch-lever has a pull or feed rod 32 connected thereto and freely movable through an opening 33 in the flange 23, the free end of the said feed-rod being hooked or deflected, as at 34. The feed-rod 32 is surrounded by a retractile spring 32, located between the adjacent portion of the plate 24 and the extremity of the lever 30, engaging said rod, the function of this spring being to retract the rod 32 and always normally maintain the free end thereof 1n contact with the wall of the slot 37. A ferruie 35 is slidingly and telescopic-ally mounted over the shank 19 and has a lower reduced extremity 36, through which the needle is adapted to project, the said extremity being bored to give l'ree movement of the needle therethrough. The opposite extremity of the ferrule or sleeve is formed with two longitudinal slots 37 and 38, the slot 38 having a limiting-screw 39 projecting therethrough and secured in the shank. The slot 37 is engaged by the deliected or hook terminal 34 of the feed-rod 32, so that when the awl is in operation the upward movement of the ferrule or sleeve over the shank will cause the said feed-rod to actuate the catch-lever so as to release the bobbin and permit the thread to pay ofi' therefrom. The needle held in the shank is surrounded by a spring similar to that heretofore described and operative to restore the ferrule or sleeve to normal position, and as soon as pressure is relieved from the awl this ferrule or sleeve is automatically returned to its normal position by the said spring and simultaneously engages the feed-rod and sets the catch-lever in such position as to engage the ratchetwheel forming one of the heads of the bobbin, and thus prevent the said bobbin from turning and hold the thread taut.-

In both forms of the device the thread is held taut when the awl is withdrawn from the leather or other material being sewed, so as to permit the thread to be pulled as tight as desired and secure the parts of the harness or other plies penetrated by the needle.

In the two forms of the device it will be seen that the feed of the thread-from the bobbin is controlled by means of a catchlever cooperating with one of the heads of the bobbin and actuated either by the feed-rod automatically moved by the ferrule or by the external engageable push-button. It will also be observed that all the parts are closed and are not liable to become broken or disarranged. To assist in threading the awl, particularly in the forni shown by Figs. 3 and 4, an opening 39 is formed inthe head for insertion of a suitable threading implement, the said opening being in alinement with the bore of the shank continued through the flange 23. This will obviate considerable annoyance in the threading operation, and the same structure may be adopted in the form of the device shown by Figs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing descri tion the operation of the improved awl will be readily understood. The reduced end of the ferrule or sleeve is applied to the work and a downward pressure is exerted on the head which forces the needle through the work and guides and reinforces it at the same time. The needle penetrates the work and carries the thread through the latter, one end being vheld in the first insertion until the succeeding insertion is completed, and so on through vthe whole series of stitches formed by the awl. As the awl is withdrawn the thread is tightened, and the stitch formed is firm and reliable.

It will be understood that changes in the proportions and dimensions of the several parts ofthe awl may be adopted to accommodate various applications thereof.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A harness-awl comprising a tubular shank having a head and means for holding a needle, a ferrule movably4 applied to the shank, a needle secured to the shank and proj ectable through the ferrule, thread-carrying means held in the head and provided with mechanism for controlling the feed of thc same, said mechanism consisting of a toothed device on one extremity of the thread-carrying means, a fulcrumed detent operative to hold the said carrying means against movement or to liberate said means to permit the thread to play off therefrom, and an exteriorly-projecting device engaging the detent and operative to release the latter from the thread-carrying means.

2. A harness-awl comprising a tubular shank having a head and means for holding a needle, a ferrule movably supported by the shank, a needle projectable through the ferrule, a thread-carrying bobbin removably disposed in the head, and mechanism for engaging a portion of the bobbin to prevent the latter from turning, said mechanism consisting of a toothed device on one end of the bobbin and a pivoted detent which may be released by exteriorly-projecting means and ICO Operative to hold the bobbin against movement or toliberate said bobbin to permit the thread to play off therefrom.

3. In a harness-awl, the combination of a tubular shank having a head and also provided With means for holding a needle, a movable member engaging the shank, a needle held'by the shank and projectable through the said member, means for automatically restoring the movable member to normal position, and thread carrying and feeding mechanism provided With an eXteriorly-projecting releasing device, the thread being drawn taut by the operation of the aWl.

4. In a harness-awl, the combination of a tubular. shank having a head, a needle secured to the shank, a ferrule having a telescopic organization with respect to the shank and through which the needle is projectable, a thread-carrying bobbin removably mounted in the head', a catch device for cooperating With a part of the bobbin to limit the movement thereof, and eXteriorly-projecting means for disengaging the catch device from the bobbin.

5. In a harness-awl, the combination of a tubular shank having a head, a needle secured to the shank, a spring-actuated ferrule telescopically, engaging the shank, the needle being proj ectable through the ferrule, and thread carrying and feeding mechanism disposed in the said head and including an inter mediately-fulcrumed member eXteriorly operative to release the thread.

6. A harness-aW1, comprising a shank and, head, a needle secured to the shank, a springactuated ferrulel telescopically engaging the shank and normally inclosing the needle and provided With a reduced extremity operating as a stay and reinforce for the4 needle, the needle being proj ectable through one terminal of the ferrule, and devices for carrying and feeding thread to the needle, said devices including a movable member exteriorly operative to release the thread-carrying device and permit the thread to play off to the needle.

In testimony whereof I Ahave hereunto set my hand in presence 0f two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE A. Peacockl Witnesses:

H. l?. BROWN, II. T. I-IENDRIcKs. 

